Method of preserving ferns



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD or rnnsnnvme man's.

. Io Drawing.

- T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Momrz SEGALL, a subject of the King of Rumania, who have declared my intention of becomin a citizen of the United States, residing at an Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Preserving Ferns. of which the following is a specification.

My inventi on is an improved method of preserving ierns, particularly adiantum formosum, (botanical name), commercially known as maidenhair ferns, by means of which methodit is possible to preserve ferns in a higher color and more natural state, and more effectively against atmospheric action, than is possible with other known methods.

There are three distinct phases of the process. First, preliminary preparations for bleaching. Second, bleaching. Third, dye

l reliminary preparations for bleaching: The dried ferns are soaked in a bath of caustic soda which has been dissolved in water to a s'tren h of 8 degrees Baum scale for heavy liquids. They are left in this bath for three hours, then theyare Washed of the caustic soda through two or three consecutive baths of cold Water, being left from three to four hours in each of these baths. i

Bleaching: Chloride of lime is dissolved in water to its essence strength. of 13 Baum scale. It is then left until the heavy part of the mixture settles to the bottom of the tank, when the clearer part (from the top) is extracted and mixed in another vessel with water to a consistency of 3 degrees Baum scale. To this 3 degree mixture of chloride of lime, add, to every 100 parts, 2 parts of acetic acid glacial 99-}%, or, instead of acetic acid glacial may be substituted 1 part commerical hydrochloric acid to every 100 parts of the chloride. In this mixture, the

ferns which have just been washed from the caustic soda are placed, and in from 20 to 30 minutes (according to the varying texture of some ferns) they are bleached to a pure White and spotless. After being taken out from the bleaching, the ferns are placed in a tank where there is a continuous flow of fresh water, for a period of six to eight hours, until all traces of any chemicals have been washedaway.

Dyeing: In the vessel where the dyeing is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

Application filed November 26, 1920. Serial No. 426,508.

to take place, add to three parts of water preferably warm, 1 part glycerine and 1 part denatured alcohol, which gives the liquid a consistency of 8 degrees Baum scale. This mixture ma then be heated a little in order to unite t e different ingredients more evenly. (Note that this compound consists of water, 20% denatured alcohol and 20% glycerine (J. P.) In a separate vessel dilute the dye in alcohol, and then add this dye essence to the above mixture of glycerine, alcohol and water. (Note that for best results basic dyes must be used). This mixture is then preferably heated to about 100 degrees F. The ferns that have gone through the bleaching phase of the process are now dyed in this mixture of dye, glycerine, alcohol and water, being left in the vessel from ten to fifteen minutes. They are then taken out, dried, and are finished, as far as the process has to do with it.

The solution of alcohol, glycerine and dye may be used cold for dyeing as well as hot.

The ferns may also be dyed in dye dissolved in water only, without the glycerine or alcohol mixed therewith; and then placed in a solution of water, glycerine and alcohol or only glycerine and Water. Inasmuch as the glycerine and alcohol serve both as a preservative of the fern itself and also as a setting of the dye, if the process were carried on in this way, it would mean that this end of the process is divided into two parts,actual dyeing and preservation.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of preserving ferns which consists in preparing the ferns for bleaching, bleaching the ferns and then dyeing the ferns in a dyeing solution containing glycerine.

2. The method of preserving ferns which consists in preparing theferns for bleaching, bleaching the ferns, and then dyeing the ferns in a dyeing solution containing glycerine and alcohol.

3. The method of preserving ferns which consists in preparing the ferns for bleaching, bleaching the ferns, and then dyeing the ferns in a dyeing solution containing equal parts of glycerine and alcohol.

4. The method of preserving ferns which consists in preparing the ferns for bleaching, bleaching the ferns, and then dyein the ferns in a solution containing 60 0 water, 20% denatured alcohol, 20% glycerine and dye essence,

5. The method of preserving ferns which consists in preparing the ferns for bleaching, bleaching the ferns, and then dyeing the ferns in a dyeing solution compounded as follows: add to three parts of warm water, one part of glycerine and one part of denatured alcohol, which ives the liquid a consistency of 8 degrees aum scale, heat this mixture a little in order to unite its difierent ingredients more evenly, dilute the dye in a separate vessel in alcohol, and then add this dye essence to said mixture of glycerine, alcohol and water.

6. The method of preserving ferns which consists in first soaking the dried ferns for three hours in a bath of caustic soda which has been dissolved in water to a strength of 8 degrees Baum scale for heavy liquids, washing the caustic soda from the ferns by two or three consecutive baths of cold water from three to four hours in each bath, then bleaching the ferns, and then dyeing the ferns.

7 The method of preserving ferns which consists in preparing the ferns for bleaching, bleaching the prepared ferns in a bleaching solution. compounded as follows: dissolve chloride of lime in water to its es- I sence strength of 13 degrees Baum scale,

1 ferns in a bath of caustic soda which has been dissolved in water to a strength of 8 degrees Baum scale for heavy liquids, washing the caustic soda from the ferns by two or three consecutive baths of cold water, leaving the ferns from three to four hours in each of these baths, then bleaching the ferns in a bleaching solution compounded as follows: dissolve chloride of lime in water to its essence strength of 13 degrees Baum scale, allow the chloride of lime to stand until the heavy part of the mixture settles to the bottom of the tank, extract the clearer part (from the top) of thechloride of lime and mix it in another vessel with water to a consistency of 3 degrees Baum scale, and add to every 100 parts of this 3 degree mixture of chloride of lime, 2 parts of acetic acid glacial 99%70, and then dyeing the bleached ferns in a dyeing solution containing glycerine.

9. The method of preserving ferns which consists in soaking the dried ferns for three hours in a bath of caustic soda which has been dissolved in water to a strength of 8 degrees Baum scale for heavy liquids, washing the caustic soda from the ferns by two or three consecutive baths of cold Water, leaving the ferns from three to four hours in each of these baths, then bleaching the ferns in a bleaching solution compounded as follows: dissolve chloride of lime in water to its essence strength of 13 degrees Baum scale, allow the chloride of lime to stand until the heavy part of the mixture settles to the bottom of the tank, extract the clearer part (from the top) of the chloride of lime and mix it in another vessel with Water to a consistency of 3 degrees Baum scale, and add to every 100 parts of this 3 degree mixture of chloride of lime 2 parts of acetic acid glacial 99%%, and then dyeing the bleached ferns in a dyeing solution containing glycerine and alcohol.

10. The method of preserving ferns which consists in placing the bleached ferns in a dyeing solution containing glycerine.

11. The method of preserving ferns which consists in placing the bleached ferns in a dyeing solution containing glycerine and alcohol.

12. The method of preserving ferns which consists in placing the bleached ferns in a dyeing solution containing equal parts of glycerine and alcohol.

13. The method of preserving ferns which consists in placing the bleached ferns in a dyeing solution containing'60% water, 20% glycerine and 20% alcohol.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MORITZ SEGALL. 

